Tubing coupling



June 17, 1941. Q s CRICKMER 2,245,963

TUBING COUPLING Filed Feb. 5, 1940 Char/es 5. Cn'c/(mer' Patented June 17, 1941 TUBING COUPLING Charles S. Crickmer, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Merla Tool Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application February 5, 1940, Serial No. 317,373

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tubing couplings.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved coupling for releasably connecting tubular elements together, said device being particularly adapted for use in releasably connecting a well tubing to a well tool, such as a well packer, or the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved coupling which includes a pair of telescoping elements having co-acting means for detachably connecting-the same to each other, together with a packing means between the elements, whereby when the elements are connected together, a fluid-tight seal is maintained therebetween.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved coupling comprising complementary members, one of which is arranged to be connected to the lower end of a well tubing while the other is adapted to be secured to a well packer, and means for detachably connecting the members to each other, whereby the tubing may be utilized to set the packer within the well, after which the tubing may be disconnected and removed from said well without disturbing the packer. Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved coupling, of the character described, wherein a fluid-tight seal is maintained between the elements of the coupling, the construction being such that either a mechanically distortable packing or a pressure seal packing may be employed for providing such seal.

A further object of the invention, is to provide an improved coupling including a pair of telescoping members having'a pin, and slot connection for positively fastening the members together and yet permitting detachment thereof when desired; the connection being such that it does not interfere with the normal function of either the packer or tubing, or other elements which it may couple.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation of an improved coupling, constructed in accordance with the invention, and showing the same connecting a well packer,

Figure 2 is an elongate transverse, vertical, sectional view of the coupling,

Figure 3 is a. horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a view, similar to Figure 2, showing a modified form of the device.

In the drawing, the letter A designates a well packerwhich may be of any desired construction and which may be purchased on the open market. As illustrated, the packer includes an elongate tubular mandrel Ill having a'fianged cap member ll threaded, or otherwise secured thereto. The cap member is formed with an annular recess l2 within which the upper reduced end of a packing element'or sleeve I3 is confined and said sleeve is constructed of rubber, rubber compound, or other elastic material. The lower end of the sleeve i3 is also reduced and is confined within a recess I4 which is formed within a thimble or cone l5, this latter member being slidable on the mandrel I0, and being normally supported on an external shoulder (not shown) formed on the mandrel In.

A plurality of gripping slips it are slidable tubing with a well vertically on the inclined outer surface of the cone l5 and are carried by a plurality of spring members IT. The lower portions of the spring members I! are bowed outwardly so as to engage the wall of the well casing 0, through which the packer is adapted to be lowered. The extreme lower ends of the springs I! are suitably secured within a ring l8 which is adapted to rest upon the upper edge of a coupling collar l9 secured to the lower end of the mandrel Ill. The upper portions of the springs I! are confined within, and secured to a ring 20, which ring is formed with a depending hook 2 I. This hook is adapted to engage a radially extending pin 22 which is provided on the mandrel I0 and when so engaged, the slips are locked against movement relative to the mandrel and to the cone I5 carried by said mandrel.

When it is desired to set the packer, the mandrel I0 is raised and then rotated so as to disengage the pin 22 from the hook 2|, the slip assembly l6 being held stationary at such time, due to the frictional engagement of the springs I! with the wall of the casing C. After the pin 22 has been disengaged from the hook, the mandrel may be lowered relative to the slip assembly. Such lowering of the mandrel causes the cone l5 to move downwardly between the slips IE to move said slips radially outward into engagement with 'pointedput. that this type of packer is of the usual construction and the details of its assembly form no part of the present invention. The

packer and its operation have been described merely for the sake of clarity. The coupling collar IE1 at the lower end of the mandrel I is arrangedto be coupled to an anchor tube B. The cap member lll'which'is; secured to the upper end of the mandrel I0 is extended upwardly to form a tubular fishing neck packer may thus be lowered into its proper position within the well casing by means of the tubing T.

When the position at which it is desired to set the packer A is reached, the tubing is lifted a slight distance so as to lift the extension 23 and mandrel H] of the packer assembly A, after which said tubing is rotated to rotate said sleeve and mandrel l0. Such lifting and rotation of the mandrel I0 of the packer causes the pin 22 on said mandrel to disengage the hook 2| of the slip assembly. The slip assembly is, of course,

heldjstationary during such movement of the mandrel. by means of the frictional grip of the springs I"! with the casing wall.

After the pin 22is disengaged from the hook 2|, the mandrel Ila and this neck is internally screw-threaded (Figure 2) to receive the reduced lower endof a tubular extension or sleeve 23. The upper portion of.the sleeve or extension is providedwith a pair of diametrically opposed J-slots 24,one of which is clearly shown inFigure 1. Each-:J-slot is provided with a vertical portion 24a which extends downwardly from the upper edge of'the sleeve and also has a horizontal or :laterally-extending portion =24b... At the inner end-of the lateral portion 24b, a vertical recess 240 is formed. Thus, it willbe seen that the tubularextension or sleeve 23 is .secured to and. forms a part of the. packer assembly A. v

For releasably connecting the packer assembly to therwelltubing stringII, .thelower end of said; string. ,is provided with anzelongated tubular; mandrel or coupling. element 25. This element is arranged to be inserted within the tubularextension 23, as is clearlycshowrr. in Fig:- ure 2, said element being provided with diametrically opposed, radial pins 26 which engage within theJ-slots 24 to, couple .the mandrel 25 to the extension. Manifestly, the bore 25a of themandrel 25 formsa continuation ofthe bore ofthe tubing stringT and also. communicates with-the bore of the packer assembly A through the extension 23, whereby an unrestricted'flow through f;

the tubing may occur. It is apparent. that .the pins 26 and, J-slots 24 provide a detachableand releasable connection betweerr the mandrel 25 securedto the tubing and the .extension 23 carried by the packer.

For packingoff between themandrel 25 and the bore of the extension 23 when these parts are coupled to ether, the lowerendofthe mandrel is reduced and an annularpacking cup 21 is mounted thereon. An inverted packing cup 28 is disposed below the packing cup 2! and both cups are mounted on; a confining. member or sleeve 29 which is. threaded ,into the.lower end of the mandrel. The sleeve 29 is formed with an'external shoulder 30 whereby the packin cups 21 and 28 are clamped between said shoulder and thejlower end otthe mandrel. By observing Figure 2, it willbe seen that the lips of the packing cups 21 and 28 are directed in opposed .relation, wherby a fluid-tight seal in eitherdirection is provided. u V, W "In heoperation or the device, .theparts of the packer ass mply A are in the, position shown in Figure l with the hook engaged with the pin 2 2, whereby theslips l 6.. areheldin a retractedposfitio n at; the lower end of the cone 15. The mandrel 2 {which is. connected to the-lower end of the tubin .T is; insertedwithin'the bore of the extension 23,..withits. radial .pins 26 engaged within the recess: 24c, of. the 'l-slots 24.- The I0 is lowered so as to cause the cone l5 to expand the slips l6 into their gripping position. A continued lowering of the mandrel by means of the tubing T results in a distortion of the packing element, l3, wherebyithe annular space. between the tubingT andcasing C is accomplished. Theipacker A is thus set by means of the tubing T andthe parts may remain in this. position as long as desired. A flow mayoccur upwardly through the anchor tube B and then through the packer; A, through the extension 23, coupling member or mandrel 25 and then upwardly through the tubing string The provision of the packing cups 2! and 28 within the, extension 23 prevent any escape of fluid from, the upper end of the extension and thus the flow, upwardly is directed through the tubing string. l

I If, for any reason, it is desired to remove the tubing, without disturbing the packer, this may be readily accomplished by merely lowering, the tubing and its mandrel 25 with relation to the elongate extension or sleeve 23. Such lowering is possible because thesleeve is locked against downward movement since it is carried by the packer assembly A, Lowering of the tube, moves the pins, 26 onthe mandrel or coupling member 25 downwardly into the lateral portions 24b of theu-slots. Upon reaching such position, the tubing maybe rotated to move the pins 26 into aline'merit with the vertical portions of the J-slots 24, after which the tubing may be pulledupwardly and entirely removed from the. casing without disturbing the packer. The packer may remain in the well casing for any length of time and whenever it is desired to remove said packer, it is only necessary to again lower the tubing, connect'the pins 26 with the slots 24 of the extensi'on'or sleeve.'23 and then re-eng'age the pin 22 of the packer mandrel l0 with the hook 21 of the slip assembly. .In this manner, the packer could be removed. at any desired time.

it is not desired to return the tubing into the well casing in order to retrieve the packer assembly, a suitable fishing tool or ,overshot (not shown) may be lowered one wire line or cable and may beengaged with the fishing neck Ila on the upper endof the cap H; An upwardpull on this cap element results in a raising of the mandrel and of the cone I5 relative to the slips,

whereby said slips may move into a-disengaged position. The packer may then be removed by pulling the same upwardly to the-surface} From the above it will bemanifest that a sinnple and elfective means for-positively coupling the. tubing and packer assembly to each other is provided. When positively connected, the'tubing may. be utilized to set the packer in adesired positionwithin the welll casing, afterwhich the tubing maybe-readily removed without disturbing said packer. The tubing may also be utilized for removing the packer at any time.

The invention is not to be limited to the use of the pressure seal packing cups 2! and 28, shown in Figure 2, as there are various other methods of packing off between coupling elements 23 and 25. In Figure 4 a slightly modified form of packing element for this purpose is shown. As illustrated, the lower end of the mandrel 25 is provided with an extension 251). An annular flange 3| is formed at the upper end of the extension and the space between this flange and said extension provides an annular recess 32. The reduced upper end of an elastic packing collar or sleeve 33 is confined within this recess. The lower end of the packing element is disposed within a recess 34 which is provided at the upper end of a ring or collar 35 which is slidable on the extension 25b. The collar 35 is connected to the extension through a slot 36 and pin 37.

In this form of the invention the sleeve 23 is sharply reduced near its lower end to provide an internal seat 38 and this seat is adapted to engage the lower end of the collar 35. In the operation of this form, the packing element 33 is normally in an undistorted position with the collar 35 on the extreme lower end of the extension. When the mandrel 25 is inserted within the extension 23, the lower end of the collar strikes the seat 38, whereby further downward movement of the collar is arrested. This occurs prior to the time that the pins 26 reach the lateral portions 241) of the J-slots 24. A continued downward movement'of the mandrel 25, moving the pins 26 into said lateral portions, results in the weight of the mandrel and tubing being placed on the packing element 33, thereby distorting said packing element into the position shown in Figure 4. In such position, a fluidtight seal between the extension 23 and the mandrel 25 is obtained. In both forms of the invention, a releasable connection between the tubing and the packer is effected.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A coupling for releasably connecting a pair of tubular members including, an elongate sleeve secured to one of the members and having an internal seat therein, a tubular mandrel secured to the other member and insertable within the sleeve, means for detachably coupling the man-- drel to the sleeve, a packing element surrounding the mandrel, and a retaining collar slidable relative to the mandrel for confining the packing element on said mandrel, said collar being adapted to engage the seat to permit the mandrel to move downwardly relative thereto during the coupling operation to distort the packing element into sealing position.

2. A coupling for releasably connecting a pair of tubular members including, an elongate sleeve secured to one of the members and having an internal seat therein, a tubular mandrel secured to the other member and insertable within the sleeve, means for detachably coupling the mandrel to the sleeve, a packing element surrounding the mandrel, a retaining collar surrounding the mandrel below the packing element, and a slot and pin connection between the collar and mandrel to permit limited movement of these parts with respect to each other, said collar being arranged to engage the seat when the mandrel is inserted into the sleeve, whereby after such engagement the mandral may continue a limited downward movement with respect to the collar to distort the packing element into sealing position.

3. A coupling for releasably connecting a pair of tubular members including, an elongate sleeve secured to one of the members and having an internal seat therein, a tubular mandrel secured to the other member and insertable within the sleeve, means for detachably coupling the mandrel to the sleeve, a packing element surrounding the mandrel, a retaining collar surrounding the mandrel below the packing element, a slot and pin connection between the collar and mandrel to permit limited movement of these parts with respect to each other, said collar being arranged to engage the seat when the mandrel is inserted into the sleeve, whereby after such engagement the mandrel may continue a limited downward movement with respect to the collar to distort the packing element into sealing position, the detachable coupling means being so located on the mandrel and sleeve that the same cannot be engaged until after the packing element is distorted.

CHARLES S. CRICKMER. 

